Except as provided in Article 5 (§ 16.1-122.1 et seq.) of this
chapter, each general district court shall have, within the limits of the
territory it serves, civil jurisdiction as follows:

(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction of any claim to specific
personal property or to any debt, fine or other money, or to damages for breach
of contract or for injury done to property, real or personal, or for any injury
to the person that would be recoverable by action at law or suit in equity,
when the amount of such claim does not exceed $4,500 exclusive of interest and
any attorney's fees contracted for in the instrument, and concurrent
jurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction in such territory of
any such claim when the amount thereof exceeds $4,500 but does not exceed
$15,000, exclusive of interest and any attorney's fees contracted for in the
instrument. However, this $15,000 limit shall not apply with respect to
distress warrants under the provisions of § 55-230, cases involving liquidated damages
for violations of vehicle weight limits pursuant to § 46.2-1135, nor cases
involving forfeiture of a bond pursuant to § 19.2-143.

(2) Jurisdiction to try and decide attachment cases when the
amount of the plaintiff's claim does not exceed $15,000 exclusive of interest
and any attorney's fees contracted for in the instrument.

(3) Jurisdiction of actions of unlawful entry or detainer as
provided in Article 13 (§ 8.01-124 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01, and in
Chapter 13 (§ 55-217 et seq.) of Title 55, and the maximum jurisdictional
limits prescribed in subdivision (1) shall not apply to any claim,
counter-claim or cross-claim in an unlawful detainer action that includes a
claim for damages sustained or rent against any person obligated on the lease
proved to be owing where the premises were used by the occupant primarily for
business, commercial or agricultural purposes. Any counter-claim or cross-claim
shall arise out of the same use of the property for business, commercial or
agricultural purposes.

(4) Except where otherwise specifically provided, all
jurisdiction, power and authority over any civil action or proceeding conferred
upon any general district court judge or magistrate under or by virtue of any
provisions of the Code of Virginia.

(5) Jurisdiction to try and decide suits in interpleader
involving personal or real property where the amount of money or value
of the property is not more than the maximum jurisdictional limits of the
general district court. However, the maximum jurisdictional limits
prescribed in subdivision (1) shall not apply to any claim, counter-claim, or
cross-claim in an interpleader action that is limited to the disposition of an
earnest money deposit pursuant to a real estate purchase contract. The
action shall be brought in accordance with the procedures for interpleader as
set forth in § 8.01-364. However, the general district court shall not have any
power to issue injunctions. Actions in interpleader may be brought by either
the stakeholder or any of the claimants. The initial pleading shall be either
by motion for judgment or, by warrant in debt, or by other
uniform court form established by the Supreme Court. The initial pleading
shall briefly set forth the circumstances of the claim and shall name as
defendant all parties in interest who are not parties plaintiff.

(6) Jurisdiction to try and decide any cases pursuant to §
2.2-3713 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) or §
2.2-3809 of the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act, for
writs of mandamus or for injunctions.

(7) Concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts having
jurisdiction in such territory to adjudicate habitual offenders pursuant to the
provisions of Article 9 (§ 46.2-355.1 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2.

(8) Jurisdiction to try and decide cases alleging a civil
violation described in § 18.2-76.

§ 54.1-2108.1 Protection of escrow funds, etc., held by a
real estate broker in the event of foreclosure of real property.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law:

1. If a [ licensed ] real estate broker or an
agent of the licensee is holding escrow funds for the owner of a real property
and such property is foreclosed upon by a lender, the licensee or an agent of
the licensee shall have the right to file an interpleader action pursuant to §
16.1-77.

2. If there is in effect at the date of the foreclosure
sale, a real estate purchase contract to buy the property foreclosed upon and
the real estate purchase contract provides that the earnest money deposit held
in escrow by a licensee shall be paid to a party to the contract in the event
of a termination of the real estate purchase contract, the foreclosure shall be
deemed a termination of the real estate purchase contract and the licensee or
an agent of the licensee may, absent any default on the part of the purchaser,
disburse the earnest money deposit to the purchaser pursuant to such provisions
of the real estate purchase contract without further consent from, or notice
to, the parties.

3. If there is in effect at the date of the foreclosure
sale, a tenant in a residential dwelling unit foreclosed upon and the landlord
is holding a security deposit of the tenant, the landlord shall handle the
security deposit in accordance with applicable law, which requires the holder
of the landlord's interest in the dwelling unit at the time of termination of
tenancy to return any security deposit and any accrued interest that is duly
owed to the tenant, whether or not such security deposit is transferred with the
landlord's interest by law or equity, and regardless of any contractual
agreements between the original landlord and his successors in interest.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the landlord from making lawful
deductions from the security deposit in accordance with applicable law.